OVER SEAS -- The Online Magazine for Sustainable Seas

Palawan

CRMP’s work in Palawan focuses on San Vicente, 180 km from Puerto Princesa. Known to the outside world primarily for its 14-km White Beach, San Vicente is, to CRMP, a rich ground for instituting programs in coastal resource management. This municipality northwest of Puerto Princesa City has four out of the 165 fishing grounds found in Palawan: Imuruan Bay, Caruray, Pagdanan and Jibbon Bay. With forest reserve areas covering 86.8% or 68,834 hectares of the total land area of nearly 80,000 hectares and a coastline extending to 120 kms, majority of San Vicente’s 20,000 residents depend on fishing for livelihood.

Manta Ray Park Proposed

A 150-hectare reef area near Port Barton is being eyed as site of a manta ray marine park. "The establishment of the park was proposed by the fisherfolk themselves," said Learning Area Coordinator Mel Corkum.

The area will be surveyed by CRMP, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas Suitability Assessment Team. Depending on the survey results, the survey team will prepare a zonation plan. The area has a lush coral reef, said Corkum, but its suitability as a manta ray park still has to be determined.

The park could serve as a test area for the coastal Environment Critical Areas Network (ECAN), which is the main strategy for the strategic environment plan of Palawan. "San vicente is the first ECANized terrestrial area," noted Corkum. "They’re hoping to be the first ECANized coastal area as well."§